Celebrity

Chris Wallace Apologizes for Comments About Kelly Clarkson's Weight

The Fox News anchor issued a statement to PEOPLE taking responsibility for the inappropriate jokes about the star's weight

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Published on April 5, 2015 05:35 PM

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Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty

Fox news host Chris Wallace has taken responsibility for the offensive comments he made about Kelly Clarkson‘s weight on Friday, issuing a public apology to the singer.

The 67-year-old Fox News anchor told PEOPLE in a statement, “I sincerely apologize to Kelly Clarkson for my offensive comment.”

“I admire her remarkable talent and that should have been the focus of any discussion about her,” he added.

Wallace faced huge Internet backlash over the incident and was even called out by Fox News colleague Greta Van Susteren to apologize for his “fat-shaming.”

On Friday, Wallace appeared on The Mike Gallagher Show when what started as playful banter about friend Gallagher’s own weight quickly turned into mean commentary over Clarkson’s post-baby body.

“Don’t fat-shame me. You do a lot of fat-shaming,” Gallagher, 54, said during the show. “That’s the phrase now, ‘fat-shaming.’ Have you seen Kelly Clarkson? You know the singer, Kelly Clarkson? Holy cow, did she blow up.”

While at first Wallace dodged the comment, even adding that the 32-year-old mom has a “lovely voice,” he later joined in on the “shaming.”

“She could stay off the deep-dish pizza for a little while,” Wallace said.

While Clarkson hasn’t commented yet, she’s addressed criticism of her weight publicly before – including her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday.

“We are who we are. Whatever size, and it doesn t meant that we re gonna be that forever, the “Heartbeat Song” singer told DeGeneres.

• Reporting by JENNIFER HEYDE